ALWAYS THUS.

A MOTHER AND HER AFTERNOON TEA.

It was always thus:
Mother on the lawn
By the white table
Waiting patiently

For afternoon tea
And the maid Lily
Bringing the big tray
With teapot, milk jug,

Two cups and saucers,
Sugar bowl and spoons,
With cake and biscuits
And Mother saying:

Where’s Elizabeth?
Watching Lily pour
The tea in the cup
Then adding the milk

Stirring in sugar
As she gazes up
To the sky above
She knowing for sure

That Elizabeth
The youngest daughter
Was up in her bed
With Giles making love.

Reviews

[Terry Collett]

What you see is what you get. While the mother goes on with her safe usual routine of afternoon tea her daughter is (unknown to the mother, but known to the maid) having sex with Giles. Of course, I dare say, some one will find some message in the imagery, that even I didn't know was there.

[tekphobik]

I feel as though I'm not high enough to understand the underlying message. It should be said though that the imagery and scene are captured quite well as to make it seem old Victorian. I just don't understand imagery without purpose.